Wanted a trailer that would do at least 3 things - move 2 x AI's - and all the myriad gear that goes with them, be a bike trailer and also work as an 8 x 5 flat bed as well.
I did start with a cheap Chinese folding trailer, which was just ok for the AI's but a wooden floor and a folding hinge were a bit marginal for the bikes - I did manage to get the dimensions about right though and quite a lot of the bits went into the new custom trailer shown below -
I need to acknowledge the help and hints I got from stringy about 2 things -
1. Use a flat nylon strap to keep the hobie the akas and the amas all together when loading and unloading, and
2. Fix some Teflon sliding strips (available any boat chandlery) to the H frames the Hobies sit on - see
You will see I chose a mesh floor but not to galvanise the trailer - given it will be stored out of the weather and will be looked after (not backed into salt water) I figured I would take that risk.
Bought an aluminium tool box and bolted that to the front to take two drives in the manner shown -
Also installed a draw bar that retracts or extends by 1.3m as shown (this is needed as the Hobies are too long to clear the towing vehicle without the extension -
When taking the Hobie off the top rack have to leave it on on incline and then move it across diagonally to get it onto its wheels set as shown -
Oh and it moves a couple of bikes pretty well also -
Cost $ AUD 1900 excluding the motorcycle chocks from Holiday Trailers in Sydney.
Just my solution - hope it may help others - best, Andrew